Judge Rejects Willie Nelson's Plea Deal

A judge has refused to approve a plea deal reducing Willie Nelson's drug charges following a marijuana bust last year.

The country icon was arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession in November after a Border Patrol agent in Texas smelled pot smoke during a search of Nelson's tour bus.

Nelson reportedly struck a deal with prosecutors allowing him to plead no contest to a reduced charge of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, which he did last month, and pay a $500 fine and $280 in court costs.

However, on Friday, County Judge Becky Dean-Walker admitted she had signed the plea deal then changed her mind and scratched her name out because she feels Nelson deserves a tougher penalty.

Dean-Walker explains, "I'm not going to be guilty of signing something because someone is a celebrity... Everybody should be treated the same in my court."

The judge claims any other person would receive a more severe punishment. The case, which has been handed back to County Attorney C.R. Bramblett, remains pending, according to Reuters.

Photo Credits: PR Photos

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